Wheel brake mechanism

Abstract

A wheel brake mechanism is disclosed for a vehicle such as a carriage or stroller having a wheel mounted on an axle. The wheel is of the normal type having radially extending ribs with spaces or recesses therebetween. The brake housing is mounted for pivotal movement around the axle between a normal unbraking position and a braking position by depressing a foot pedal attached to the housing. The brake mechanism comprises a cam mounted within the brake housing, and a cam follower mounted on the vehicle body. The cam follower has a cam engagable portion and a wheel engaging portion. Pivotal movement of the brake housing to its braking position causes the cam to force the wheel engaging portion into a wheel recess for braking the wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wheel brake for a vehicle having an axle mounted to a vehicle body and a wheel mounted to rotate about the axle, with the axle being oriented along a first axis and the wheel having ribs defining angularly spaced recesses, said wheel brake comprising: a brake member mounted for pivotal rotation between an unbraking position and a braking position, about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis;   a cam surface mounted on said brake member: and   a cam follower having a cam surface contacting portion and a wheel engaging portion, said cam follower mounted for translational movement between a wheel non-engaging position and a wheel-engaging position along a first movement direction substantially parallel to the first axis,   wherein rotation of said brake member from the unbraking position to the braking position causes said cam surface to urge said cam follower along the movement direction to the wheel engaging position where said wheel engaging portion engages one of the recesses to brake the wheel.   
     
     
       2. A wheel brake according to claim 1, further comprising means for biasing said cam follower towards said cam surface. 
     
     
       3. A wheel brake according to claim 1, wherein said brake member is mounted on the axle for rotation about the axle. 
     
     
       4. A wheel brake according to claim 1, wherein said brake member houses said cam surface contactable portion. 
     
     
       5. A wheel brake according to claim 1, wherein said cam follower is mounted on the vehicle body for translational movement in the first movement direction. 
     
     
       6. A wheel brake according to claim 1, wherein said cam surface defines an arcuate sloping channel. 
     
     
       7. A wheel brake according to claim 6, wherein said cam surface has a notch portion, and said cam engaging portion rests in said notch when said brake member is in the braking position to releasably retain said brake member in the braking position. 
     
     
       8. A wheel brake according to claim 6, wherein said brake member is mounted on the axle for rotation about the axle, said cam follower is mounted on the vehicle body for translational movement in the movement direction, and said vehicle body is mounted to said axle for relative movement with respect to said axle along a second movement direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
       9. A wheel brake according to claim 1, further comprising: a projection extending frown said brake member; and   a detent provided on said vehicle body, said detent being engaged by said projection when said brake member is in the braking position to releasably retain said brake member in the braking position.   
     
     
       10. A wheel brake system for a vehicle having a vehicle body with an axle having two ends mounted thereto, and having first and second wheels each mounted at one end of the axle to rotate about the axle, with the axle being oriented along a first axis and the wheels each having ribs defining angularly spaced recesses, said wheel brake system comprising: first and second brake members, each mounted for pivotal rotation between an unbraking rotation and a braking position, about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis:   a first cam surface mounted to said first brake body;   a second cam surface mounted to said second brake body;   a first cam follower having a first cam surface contacting portion and a first wheel engaging portion, said first cam follower mounted for movement between a first wheel non-engaging position and a first wheel engaging position along a first movement direction substantially parallel to the first axis;   a second cam follower having a second cam surface contacting portion and a second wheel engaging portion, said second cam follower mounted for movement between a second wheel non-engaging portion and a second wheel-engaging position along a second movement direction substantially parallel to the first axis; and   a coupling member for coupling said first and second brake members so that rotation of one said brake member to the braking position rotates the other said brake member to the braking position,   wherein rotation of said brake members to the braking position causes said first and second cam surfaces to urge said first and second cam followers to the first and second wheel engaging positions, respectively, so that said first and second wheel engaging portions each engage respective recesses to brake the wheels.